Distracted Driving Monday, December 13, 2010 By Junior Hannah Goebel Students take in the gruesome reality of driving distracted at a seminar assembly. - Photo by Samantha McClary Advertising In 2009, 8 teenagers died every day from car accidents, according to government statistics from the  Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This is a cause for concern and two DECA students at Cameron High School are taking notice. Seniors Kelsey Carr and Baylee Duzenberry have started a program to help make students more aware of the dangers of driving while distracted. Senior Kelsey Carr said, “I know quite a few people who have gotten seriously injured while texting and driving. I think it’s really important that people don’t do it, because you can injure yourself and other people.” Kelsey and Baylee both felt that distracted driving can be really dangerous and needs to be addressed in a school wide program. The DECA class was just the way to do this. The Distracted Driving Program started in Mrs. Stephanie Williams’ classroom as an idea for a DECA project. Mrs. Stephanie Williams said, “I think that a lot of the decision to do this project went back to events that have been going on in our community, with the texting and driving and the different laws in the different areas.”  The program includes a week for the high school which teaches students the dangers of driving while distracted. Kelsey and Baylee decided to do seminar activities such as a scavenger hunt and and an assembly with State Patrolman Sargent  Sheldon Lyon to teach students what can happen when they drive distracted. Senior Baylee Duzenberry said, “It [distracted driving] affects other people. It can hurt a lot of people, driving distracted.” Many of the students learned a valuable lesson during the distracted driving seminar. Distracted driving can hurt more than just the driver. This is the main message of all of these seminars.  Kelsey Carr said, “I hope that kids really do realize how dangerous it is--not just texting and driving, just any kind of distracted driving, because it can really hurt you and other people. So many people are hurt every year from car accidents caused by distracted driving.”  Now that more people than ever are texting, it is important for them to know the dangers it involves. People don’t always realize their actions can hurt others in the community. One second looking down at your phone can ruin countless lives.  Nobody wants that on their hands. Take Kelsey and Baylee’s lesson to heart and don’t drive distracted. It is always dangerous and often fatal. Turn your phone off, ignore the stereo, and keep your eyes on the road. It can save lives.

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